SIGMA 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC HSM OS Telephoto Zoom Lens with Macro

The highly acclaimed Sigma 18-250mm telephoto lens with Nikon mount (same price for Canon mount!) - basically, a contender for best all in one "walk around" lens. Although at first glance the Amazon price matches this, with a 3 year Sigma warranty the Amazon price goes up to £339.99 (319.99 for Canon mount). I can not find a cheaper deal from a reputable UK seller.

Heres the description from Currys:
The Sigma 18-250 mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens with Macro for Nikon DSLR cameras is both compact and versatile, its massive high-ratio zoom providing mesmerising close-up images.

Zoom, zoom, zoom

Designed for digital SLRs, the superzoom Sigma 18-250 mm f3.5-6.3 Macro Lens boasts a whopping 13.8x zoom ratio. You're ensured of a minimum focusing distance of 35 cm across the full zoom range, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.9.

This means you'll be able to get closer than ever to subjects, providing intimate effects and revealing extremely fine levels of detail. Taking an APS-C size sensor into consideration, the effective maximum reproduction ratio becomes 1:2 – brilliant for close-up photography.

What's more, a magnification scale right on the lens barrel makes it so much easier to use – get just the macro effects you want in your photography.

Steady and quiet

The DC OS HSM 18-250 mm Macro Lens also features Sigma's Optical Stabiliser technology to compensate for camera shake at shutter speeds some four times slower than normal, giving your shots crisp definition.

This image stabilisation system also links up to cameras featuring an anti-shake system in the body, such as Nikon's VR technology, so you're ensured of stable, high-quality shots when capturing high-speed events such as motor sports, energetic live performances or animals in motion.

What's more, the Sigma HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures fast and quiet auto-focusing, crucial in situations where you need to stay silent, such as photographing wildlife or perhaps when sound is being recorded near you.

Improved lens design for better photographs

The lens is fitted with one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element which provides superior correction for colour aberrations, and three aspherical lenses which include a double-sided aspherical lens to prevent and correct for aberrations of all kinds, such as astigmatism.

Combined with Sigma's Super Multi-Layer Coating, you'll enjoy beautiful high-quality images across the zoom range, free from flare and ghosting and exhibiting exquisite sharpness and high contrast – even in backlit conditions.

To complete the package, the supplied petal-type hood blocks out superfluous light, diminishing internal reflections for fewer shots rendered unusable by spurious light intrusions.

A top contender in the general-purpose SLR lens market, the Sigma 18-250 mm f3.5-6.3 DC-OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens with Macro for Nikon DSLR cameras is a versatile way to get into macro photography, delivering stunning results.